Renting out a residential home or an apartment to travelers is a great way to earn a source of partially passive income, generate profits to slowly build your real estate portfolio, or help with mortgage payments on an investment property. But to unlock this happy state of affairs, you need to know how to get guests flocking to your vacation rental.
The City of Big Shoulders is busting with food, architecture, music, and museums. But it's also brimming with vacation lets. If you want to stand out from the competition and start attracting back-to-back bookings, here are some essential tips for attracting guests to your vacation rental. Ready to boost rental bookings? Read on.
High-Quality Images Are Key to Attracting Guests to Your Vacation Rental
Photos and videos are what essentially sells your rental to prospective guests. Do not try to cut costs when it comes time to photograph your property. Investing in a professional real estate photography service will get you top-quality images that show off your rental to its best advantage.
Taking your own images might save you a few hundred dollars. However, poorly lit, grainy, dull photos are going to deter guests faster than you can say "Chicago". Hot tip: If you partner with a property management company like PMI that offers comprehensive rental marketing services, processional, high-res images will be part of the package. Seeing as less than half of homeowners get professional photos taken, this will instantly set you ahead of the pack.
Boost Rental Bookings by Showing off Sought-after Amenities
Is there anything super unique about your vacation rental? Does it have a mini library, a historic architectural feature, a crazy cool location, or technology that will make life easier for your guests? Things like keyless locks, fast internet, etc., should always be mentioned in your listing.
Increase Rental Occupancy with Competitive Pricing and Specials
The average occupancy rate for Airbnb vacation rentals is around 50%. But you can increase rental occupancy and boost bookings far beyond this with the right pricing strategy. You definitely don't want to underprice your unit. However, offering things like specials during slow winter months and discounts for longer stays can help ensure you stay booked out for weeks at a time.
Make Sure Your Property Is Well-Managed and in Good Repair
It doesn't matter how good your vacation home marketing is. If the actual accommodation is in disrepair, with paint peeling, loose guttering, plants dying, and lights flickering - you're going to have a very hard time staying booked. The easiest way to stay on top of maintenance is to outsource it to a reliable property management company that will ensure repairs are carried out promptly and properly.
Leverage These Vacation Rental Tips and Let the Bookings Roll In
The right property, in the right place, at the right price is sure to reel in visitors. Implement these tips and you'll start attracting guests to your vacation rental like nobody's business.
What to know how much your property can make? Get a free rental analysis from us today.
